Utilities access closure

摘要

A concrete lid for an in-ground utilities box includes a reinforcement structure filled with concrete. The reinforcement structure includes a plastic frame and one or more reinforcing trusses that extend between opposing sidewalls of the plastic frame. The reinforcing trusses also extend substantially between the upper and lower edges of the opposing sidewalls. For example, a reinforcing truss may include a flat truss member that is substantially coplanar with the lower edges of the sidewalls, and an arched truss member that extends towards (but does not reach) a plane defined by the upper edges of the sidewalls. The reinforcing trusses include openings that allow wet concrete to pass through. The sidewalls of the plastic frame protect the edges of the lid from damage. The reinforcing trusses reinforce the concrete lid, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement material.

主权项

1. A method of forming a reinforcement structure for a concrete lid, comprising:
forming a pair of opposing sidewalls of a frame structure, the frame structure having a height, width, and length dimension, wherein the length dimension is larger than the width dimension, and wherein the width dimension is larger than the height dimension; forming a plurality of slots on the pair of opposing sidewalls, each slot defining a partially enclosed volume having a longitudinal axis oriented along the height dimension, the longitudinal axis intersecting a first and second end of the partially enclosed volume, wherein at least one of the first and second end comprimises an opening; engaging a first reinforcing truss with the pair of opposing sidewalls of the frame structure, the first reinforcing truss comprising a first truss member having two ends, a second truss member, and an end post disposed on each end of the first truss member, wherein the end posts are substantially perpendicular to the first truss member, and wherein engaging the first reinforcing truss with the pair of opposing sidewalls comprises inserting the end posts of the first reinforcing truss into the previously-formed plurality of slots; engaging a second reinforcing truss, which is separate from the first reinforcing truss, with the pair of opposing sidewalls of the frame structure, wherein the frame structure includes a plurality of sidewalls, including the pair of opposing sidewalls, that laterally surround the first and second truss reinforcing members, and define a location of a concrete core of the concrete lid.